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After getting off to a hot start in 2020/21, the Boston Celtics now find themselves in a bit of a rut. Celtics star Jaylen Brown is having a magnificent campaign so far, but the two-way wing has been critical of his defense. With Boston enduring a mini-slump, Brown wants his team to play with a “villainous mentality” on defense and follow veteran guard Marcus Smart's lead on that end of the floor.
Jaylen Brown is putting a lot on himself to be better defensively: “We’ve just gotta get that tenacity back. … We’ve gotta have that villainous mentality on defense. We’ve gotta follow Smart’s lead.”
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) January 23, 2021
The Celtics have lost three games in a row, after winning five straight and going 8-3 to begin the season. Boston just made their return to the floor after the team was hit with the coronavirus, which led to three postponements on their schedule. While the mini-hiatus may have disrupted their rhythm, this certainly isn't an excuse they would accept.
They lost by 30 to the New York Knicks last week, which is inexcusable. Then, they lost two straight outings to the Philadelphia 76ers, the most recent being a 122-110 defeat on Friday.
The Celtics had no answer for Sixers star big man Joel Embiid, who had another dominant showing for the second straight game. He dropped 38 points and 11 rebounds, just two nights after torching Boston to the tune of 42 points in an 8-point win on Wednesday.
The C's is still missing All-Star forward Jayson Tatum, while Robert Williams returned to the floor after both have missed time due to testing positive for COVID-19. Health concerns aside, the Celtics are definitely much better than they have shown over these last three games.
Brown has taken the next step as a legitimate two-way force, while Tatum continues to blossom as one of the top wings in the NBA. Meanwhile, the C's also got All-Star guard Kemba Walker back, which should add more firepower to the Celtics offense.
Defense, however, especially on the interior, may still be a problem they need to address. Boston has proven it can be an elite defensive team. Perhaps Brown's words could light a fire under them.
